Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Aha, that's where the confusion is. It's WW2 then :)
Maaarysia, I'm impressed with your general English but please ask any article-related questions here if you are unsure of anything.
Aha, that's where the confusion is. It's WW2 then :)
Maaarysia, I'm impressed with your general English but please ask any article-related questions here if you are unsure of anything.
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Maaarysia, I'm referring to cardinals and ordinals here.
WWII is cardinal and the Second World War is ordinal.
Dwa i druga
Maaarysia, I'm referring to cardinals and ordinals here.
WWII is cardinal and the Second World War is ordinal.
Dwa i druga
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Food / Expats' Polish food favourites [140]
It has nothing on Asian cuisine for me but many Poles rate their food as the best in the world. It's seasonal food too. For example, I have no desire to eat pierogi in summer but they are nice in winter.
It has nothing on Asian cuisine for me but many Poles rate their food as the best in the world. It's seasonal food too. For example, I have no desire to eat pierogi in summer but they are nice in winter.
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Nope, you were right. WWII or the Second World War :) :)
Ask a Dutchman :) :) They explained it well to me :)
Nope, you were right. WWII or the Second World War :) :)
Ask a Dutchman :) :) They explained it well to me :)
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Food / Expats' Polish food favourites [140]
Although I much prefer Scottish stuff like scampi and Moray Firth haddock, I'd say łazanki. Bigos is similar to what we already have in Scotland.
Although I much prefer Scottish stuff like scampi and Moray Firth haddock, I'd say łazanki. Bigos is similar to what we already have in Scotland.
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Just checking :)
OK, how about the big world conflict between 1939-1945. What was that called? ;)
Just checking :)
OK, how about the big world conflict between 1939-1945. What was that called? ;)
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Oh, very good. Shame my Japanese friend wasn't as proficient as that, lol. Zannen nagara ;)
Why do we say Mount Everest but The Himalayas?
Oh, very good. Shame my Japanese friend wasn't as proficient as that, lol. Zannen nagara ;)
Why do we say Mount Everest but The Himalayas?
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
True. What's the difference between:
This is sh*t?
This is the sh*t?
True. What's the difference between:
This is sh*t?
This is the sh*t?
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Thanks, pawian. I'm not popular with those that value true help, I don't know why. I'm a target of their attack.
Pawian, you are a teacher. In all your years of teaching, have you ever run into difficulties when teaching articles?
Thanks, pawian. I'm not popular with those that value true help, I don't know why. I'm a target of their attack.
Pawian, you are a teacher. In all your years of teaching, have you ever run into difficulties when teaching articles?
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Oh, I'm not too well up on the man, I'm afraid.
Besides, this is about articles, remember? ;) ;) Do you have a question?
Oh, I'm not too well up on the man, I'm afraid.
Besides, this is about articles, remember? ;) ;) Do you have a question?
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Be careful not to confuse alliteration with assonance which focuses in on vowel sounds and pairings.
OK, articles. Is the basic pattern clear to resident Poles? Any hard cases you want to ask about?
Be careful not to confuse alliteration with assonance which focuses in on vowel sounds and pairings.
OK, articles. Is the basic pattern clear to resident Poles? Any hard cases you want to ask about?
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Wrocław missed his chance to comment on regional English and 'the'. Peter Kay, a renowned stand-up comedian from Bolton in England, often omits the use of 'the'. Where I would say 'I'm going up the motorway and listening to the radio', he'd say 'Am goin up motoway and listenin to radio' in his classic Yorkshire accent. He also says 't'intanet' instead of 'the internet', lol.
Wrocław missed his chance to comment on regional English and 'the'. Peter Kay, a renowned stand-up comedian from Bolton in England, often omits the use of 'the'. Where I would say 'I'm going up the motorway and listening to the radio', he'd say 'Am goin up motoway and listenin to radio' in his classic Yorkshire accent. He also says 't'intanet' instead of 'the internet', lol.
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Show or display of strength both work, codger, but you have a point. Still, I don't think alliteration is the key concern in the modern age.
Show or display of strength both work, codger, but you have a point. Still, I don't think alliteration is the key concern in the modern age.
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Strzyga had better be a native speaker as she is better than me ;) ;) She is right, codger.
Maaarysia, 'I would never have guessed' is correct.
Strzyga, what are you asking in the second part as I am unsure?
The initial sounds as it's one sound :)
Folks, please stay on topic as this is about the articles. Thanks!
Strzyga had better be a native speaker as she is better than me ;) ;) She is right, codger.
Maaarysia, 'I would never have guessed' is correct.
Strzyga, what are you asking in the second part as I am unsure?
The initial sounds as it's one sound :)
Folks, please stay on topic as this is about the articles. Thanks!
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
I read Robinson Crusoe not long ago at all but he wrote in the 17thC. Dickens? I read Oliver Twist in 1987/1988. I have a huge tome of ACD. I might have picked up some things from them but it would be subconsciously. It doesn't get to the heart of the matter. Why not 'a historian' as I'd say? Sometimes there is 'ellision' to make things easier. That explains why we don't combine certain sounds.
It's a little on a tangent so let's stay central. What's the difference between 'life' and 'the life'???
I read Robinson Crusoe not long ago at all but he wrote in the 17thC. Dickens? I read Oliver Twist in 1987/1988. I have a huge tome of ACD. I might have picked up some things from them but it would be subconsciously. It doesn't get to the heart of the matter. Why not 'a historian' as I'd say? Sometimes there is 'ellision' to make things easier. That explains why we don't combine certain sounds.
It's a little on a tangent so let's stay central. What's the difference between 'life' and 'the life'???
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Travel / Polish trains often get frozen and are overcrowded? :-) [35]
In my experience, many are sloshed and holding onto their Tyskie cans for life ;) ;0
I think the hiking up of prices will have changed that. PKP tends to attract a reasonable class of clientele.
In my experience, many are sloshed and holding onto their Tyskie cans for life ;) ;0
I think the hiking up of prices will have changed that. PKP tends to attract a reasonable class of clientele.
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Maaarysia, marvellous insight! I'd have to ask Ewelina (my co-teacher) or even my wife as they are more up on the history and origins of things than I am. My own personal belief? Yes, French is the stem but it could also be that Londoners dictate things. What do I mean? Well, if you know how they speak then you know that they don't say H but I. It becomes 'istory' and not 'history'. So, 'an historian' is pronounced as 'an istorian' (thus a vowel). This approach has grown in stock amongst prominent writers.
Maaarysia, not exactly. 'A European' and 'a university' are correct due to 'E' and 'u' having consonant (współgłoska) sounds. As codger said, it is a phonetic thing. Mods, please permit a MINOR digression for the purposes of making a point. We have sth that is called the 'schwa' in English. Phonetically, it means an omission, e.g there are 3 syllables in comfortable and not 4. CUM F TIBLE. We have to have an awareness of phonetics to see how it impacts on any given matter. The vowel/consonant distinction is key here :)
Maaarysia, marvellous insight! I'd have to ask Ewelina (my co-teacher) or even my wife as they are more up on the history and origins of things than I am. My own personal belief? Yes, French is the stem but it could also be that Londoners dictate things. What do I mean? Well, if you know how they speak then you know that they don't say H but I. It becomes 'istory' and not 'history'. So, 'an historian' is pronounced as 'an istorian' (thus a vowel). This approach has grown in stock amongst prominent writers.
Maaarysia, not exactly. 'A European' and 'a university' are correct due to 'E' and 'u' having consonant (współgłoska) sounds. As codger said, it is a phonetic thing. Mods, please permit a MINOR digression for the purposes of making a point. We have sth that is called the 'schwa' in English. Phonetically, it means an omission, e.g there are 3 syllables in comfortable and not 4. CUM F TIBLE. We have to have an awareness of phonetics to see how it impacts on any given matter. The vowel/consonant distinction is key here :)
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Travel / Polish trains often get frozen and are overcrowded? :-) [35]
Scottish :)
Now, Polish trains? No money? I know French quite well (it's my 3rd/4th language) but I've never seen any Arabs here, tbh. I was talking about Polish racconteurs who fill you with anecdote after anecdote. I can understand them but they tell me little. I feel better on trains as language is power. Polish is very much my second language and I know how to broach certain subjects with specific types of Poles. Elderly Poles are generally harmless and I sometimes get sth from a chat with them :)
Scottish :)
Now, Polish trains? No money? I know French quite well (it's my 3rd/4th language) but I've never seen any Arabs here, tbh. I was talking about Polish racconteurs who fill you with anecdote after anecdote. I can understand them but they tell me little. I feel better on trains as language is power. Polish is very much my second language and I know how to broach certain subjects with specific types of Poles. Elderly Poles are generally harmless and I sometimes get sth from a chat with them :)
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
I also thought of those options, strzyga :) I want to keep the options open so people can contribute with their own ideas like you did, so many thanks :)
OK, another aspect. We generally use the indefinite article 'an' with a following vowel, e.g an apple, an egg, an igloo, an orange or an umbrella. So, resident Poles, why do some natives choose to say 'an historian'? That's a hard case, I'm being a bit brutal here so maybe why don't we say 'an European' or 'an university'?? (given that e and u are vowels).
I also thought of those options, strzyga :) I want to keep the options open so people can contribute with their own ideas like you did, so many thanks :)
OK, another aspect. We generally use the indefinite article 'an' with a following vowel, e.g an apple, an egg, an igloo, an orange or an umbrella. So, resident Poles, why do some natives choose to say 'an historian'? That's a hard case, I'm being a bit brutal here so maybe why don't we say 'an European' or 'an university'?? (given that e and u are vowels).
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Maaarysia, that works :) I was thinking 'show' of strength :)
AS, ok. Let's keep the focus here though.
Maaarysia, that works :) I was thinking 'show' of strength :)
AS, ok. Let's keep the focus here though.
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Let's stay on track with the articles, Maaarysia :)
Please fill in the missing word:
NATO's initial attack on Afghanistan (Tora Bora) was a violent .... of strength :)
Let's stay on track with the articles, Maaarysia :)
Please fill in the missing word:
NATO's initial attack on Afghanistan (Tora Bora) was a violent .... of strength :)
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
Let me ask you this. Is strength countable or uncountable??
Let me ask you this. Is strength countable or uncountable??
Seanus
11 Jun 2011
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
We would tend not to pluralise it but it would be 'I could forgive you for your multiple idiocies'. It doesn't look right but is grammatically sound. Anyway, let's stay on track, Maaarysia. I know you have questions :)
We would tend not to pluralise it but it would be 'I could forgive you for your multiple idiocies'. It doesn't look right but is grammatically sound. Anyway, let's stay on track, Maaarysia. I know you have questions :)